A San Antonio truck accident attorney reveals what you should know
A recent verdict in a fatal truck accident in Texas illustrates how trucking companies – and not just the drivers – can be negligent.
In handing down a $30 million verdict, a jury found that FedEx Freight, the LTL division of the FedEx parent corporation, was 51% responsible for the crash. The jury determined the company was negligent in training and supervising the truck driver, who was found 49% responsible.
How can a company be held responsible for a truck accident?
Trucking companies are responsible for the vehicles and drivers they send out on the roads. They must follow procedures in hiring and training drivers. In some cases, trucking companies hire unqualified or dangerous drivers. The truck drivers might have a history of road infractions. They might not have received the proper training. Companies sometimes put pressure on drivers to make deliveries in an unreasonable time frame. The drivers might ignore Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours of service limits which are in place to guard against driver fatigue.
How the trucking accident happened
According to a FreightWaves article, the accident that led to the verdict occurred after the FedEx Freight truck veered into oncoming traffic. The driver approached an obstruction in the road. The big rig then hit a tractor-trailer head-on in east Texas in 2018.
The driver said FedEx never trained him to prepare for that kind of scenario. He did not know whether the proper maneuver was to turn to the right or go into a ditch to avoid an object on the road, according to his attorney.
The victim’s son told Click2Houston.com that he hopes the jury’s verdict motivates trucking companies to improve safety procedures.
Severe and fatal injuries are common in truck accidents
Because of their size, tractor-trailers or big rigs can cause severe damage in crashes. The risk of injury or death in an accident with a big commercial truck is generally higher than in crashes involving smaller passenger vehicles.
Common truck accident injuries include:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage that may cause partial or permanent paralysis
- Broken bones and fractures
- Limb amputation
- Facial injuries
- Neck injuries
- Severe burn injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
Any of these catastrophic injuries can have a significant impact on the quality of your life. A victim may be unable to work and earn an income to support a family. If the victim dies, the family may face long-term financial hardship in addition to the emotional loss of a loved one.
Cases involving truck accidents are often high stakes, so it's common for trucking companies to deny liability and use teams of attorneys to protect their interests.
In some cases, an insurance company may make a lowball settlement offer that doesn’t begin to cover the losses. Accident victims who are struggling with their recovery may be tempted to give up and accept the offer or final word of the insurance company.
A truck accident lawyer can level the playing field
That would be a mistake. Contact The Herrera Law Firm for a free consultation about your case. Our experienced attorneys have represented victims of trucking accidents and have helped them obtain the compensation they need and deserve.
Let an attorney with our firm focus on your case so you can focus on your recovery. If you lost a loved one, we can talk to you about pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.
There’s no obligation when you contact us, and your consultation is free. Find out today how we can help if you or a loved one was involved in a truck accident in Texas. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
